In vitro antibacterial activity of meclofenamate metal complexes with Cd(II), Pb(II), Co(II), and Cu(II). Crystal structures of [Cd(C14H10NO2Cl2)2∙(CH3OH)]n and [Cu(C14H10NO2Cl2)2(C5H5N)2].

The synthesis and characterization of five metal complexes derived from sodium meclofenamate (1) are reported: [Cd(C14H10NO2Cl2)2∙(CH3OH)]n∙nCH3OH (6), [Pb(C14H10NO2Cl2)2]n (7), [Co(C14H10NO2Cl2)]n (8), [Cu(C14H10NO2Cl2)]n (9), and [Cu(C14H10NO2Cl2)2(C5H5N)2] (10) (C14H10NO2Cl2=meclofenamate; C5H5N=pyridine). The characterization of the compounds was based on FTIR and UV-visible spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and, in the case of complexes 6 and 10, single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. For compound 6, the structural analysis revealed a 1-D polymeric chain structure, in which pentagonal planar [Cd(RCOO)2(CH3OH)] units were linked through bridging carboxylate functions of the meclofenamate ligands. The overall coordination environment of the Cd(II) ions was seven-coordinate, since each carboxylate group exhibited a μ3-bridging coordination mode. On the other hand, for complex 10 a discrete mononuclear structure was observed, in which the six-coordinate copper(II) metal atoms were coordinated by two pyridine molecules and the carboxylate functions of two meclofenamate entities, in an anisobidentate coordination mode. The antibacterial activity of compounds 6-9 against four strains of Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria was examined, finding that only complex 6 was active. Additionally, it was found that the Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes 8 and 9 showed peroxidase activity.